Eurobabe Irina gives Lara a run for her money

By Dan Buckley

She is also an MEP and something of a eurobabe the Lara Croft of Brussels.

Say bonjour to shapely Irina the fictional heroine and star of a comic book printed by the European Parliament.

The glamorous daredevil's adventures may have little in common with CAP reform or the daily drudge of committee work but Brussels hopes she will appeal to young Europeans and help explain the work of the EU.

She even has the approval of parliament president Pat Cox, who is depicted chairing parliamentary sessions in a number of the storylines.

Irina is the central character in the 40-page comic book, Troubled Waters, in which she is sent a package containing a bullet as she tries to force through a clean water directive in the face of a dirty tricks campaign waged by figures in the chemical industry.

She has, however, incurred the wrath of some members and British MEP Martin Callanan yesterday described the publication as "a waste of money".

However, even he could see Irina's attraction. "The idea of an MEP chasing criminals at night is just preposterous, but some of us here wouldn't mind chasing Irina," Mr Callanan said.

Europe's chemical industry has also protested about the "mafia-like picture" which the book gives of its activities.

The parliament has had to insert a statement on a separate piece of paper into each of the 120,000 copies printed so far, saying the book is "entirely fictional" although the procedures described in it reflect reality.

David Harley, a spokesman for the parliament, said: We are trying to help young people understand what the EU does and how MEPs go about their work.

"We are always being told that too many of our publications are indigestible. So we are trying a more informal and attractive approach.

"We will distribute copies to visiting groups and to our offices across the EU. They will be available on request, for example to teachers who have to explain how the EU works."

The parliament plans to print up to one million copies at a cost of €800,000. Mr Harley added that Troubled Waters had already received first prize at a festival of comic books in France and most MEPs had given it their full support.